54 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 XXX! XXX The Victorian Era THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: EASTERN THEATER THE CLASSIC AMERICAN CIVIL WAR TOUR This tour is set amidst picturesque American countryside which, at this time of year, will be resplendent in early autumn colours: the scenic Shenandoah Valley, the stunning Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains, the mighty James River and a wealth of National Parks. We explore historic American towns and cities such as Fredericksburg, Richmond, Lexington, Harper’s Ferry and of course, Gettysburg and visit the major eastern civil war engagements en-route. We walk over superbly preserved battlefields, often situated within their own national parkland, enjoy inspiring presentations not only from your expert guide, Fred Hawthorne,butfromselectedparkrangers and visit a wealth of museums, historic buildings and interpretation centres. We are based out of full-service hotels where we can indulge in a drink in the bar, whilst in the evenings we experience a plethora of restaurants, including several historic taverns, in which we enjoy a varied cuisine. 21 September - 4 October 2018 21 September - 4 October 2018 & & 20 September – 3 October 2019 20 September – 3 October 2019 20 September – 3 October 2019 20 September – 3 October 2019 14 days with Fred Hawthorne with Fred Hawthorne Activity Level 2 During the American Civil War more Americans lost their lives than during the whole of WW1 and WW2 combined. An estimated 750,000 – some 2% of the population – died of battle wounds or disease. For four years, battles raged across the continent, but rarely was the fighting fiercer than in the Eastern Theater where six of the ten bloodiest battles of the war were fought. Encouraged by early victories, the Confederate forces held off subsequent ff subsequent ff Federal advances around Richmond until they felt confident enough to take the war into the North, where their advances were checked at Antietam in 1862 and Gettysburg in 1863. After achieving their ‘high water mark’, Southern forces were engaged in a fight against the inevitable which was to finally end at a small court house in Appomattox in April 1865. Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Washington- Dulles. Check in to our Manassas hotel for one night. Drinks reception and tour briefing. Day 2 - The two Battles of Manassas. View the excellent 1st Manassas orientation film and the illuminated battlefield map prior to exploring the battlefield, its monuments and historic buildings such as Stone and Hill House. After lunch we visit 2nd Manassas battlefield, including the interpretive centre at Brawner Farm, ‘Deep Cut’ and the ‘Dogan House’. Thence to Fredericksburg where we check in to our hotel for the next two nights. Day 3 - Fredericksburg & Chancellorsville. Gain an overview of the battle of Fredericksburg from the lovely Chatham Plantation and enjoy its great views over the town before descending to the battlefield at Prospect Hill. Walk along the ‘sunken road’ and view the original section of the ‘stone wall’ against which waves of Federal troops were thrown. This afternoon we visit the Chancellorsville museum and interpretative centre and walk the battlefield to include Hazel Grove, the Lee-Jackson last bivouac and the Chancellor Clearing. Day 4 - T he Overland Campaign. Receive a brief on the Battle of the Wilderness from the ‘Shelter’ and Saunder’s Field with interpretive stops at Widow Tapp Farm and the Brock Road intersection, the Higgerson and Chewning clearings and the spot where Longstreet was wounded. Following in the footsteps of the Union army to Spotsylvania, we visit Todd’s Tavern, Laurel Hill, the Mule Shoe Salient, the ‘Bloody Angle’ and the court-house and jail. On our southward journey we see where ‘Stonewall’ Jackson spent his last hours and visit the J.E.B Stuart memorial. We end the day at Cold Harbor with its extensive earthworks including the Confederate entrenchments and the Connecticut heavy artillery line. Check in to our Richmond-area hotel for four nights. Day 5 – The Peninsula Campaign. We visit locations associated with the first Battle of the Ironclad Warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimac) and the superbly preserved Fort Monroe National Monument from where McClellan launched his campaign and where Confederate President Jefferson Davis was later imprisoned. At the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News is the USS Monitor Centre where we see how “Fred Hawthorne was superb and went the extra mile all of the time – best tour guide we’ve ever had. We saw and experienced so much thanks to him”. ESSENTIALS Return flights from London, 3 and 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour Price: £4950 Single supplement: £675 Deposit: £350 Price without flights: £4200 Detail from the Gettysburg Cyclorama